Period missing for 4 months. Early menopause?

[SpiceWeaselBAM]

I'm 42, haven't had a period since beginning of April.

This happened around the same time last year, and I put it down to Covid stress. The GP prescribed provera and my period was reasonably normal from then to April.

Now I'm wondering do I just keep going back for provera every time my period goes AWOL or is it better to wait till it returns naturally to get an idea of where my natural patterns are at?

I've been starting to think I've been in peri menopause since my late 30s as thats when a lot of my mental issues began.

Probably peri-menopause. This happened to be, too, when mine started, but I was 40. If you are suffering with anxiety due to peri I highly recommend HRT. It's been a lifesaver for me.

Thank you! I think I need to investigate HRT. Did you ever take provera to get your period started?

No, I didn't.

It is possible, my peri started at 39 and I had meno symptoms and regular but very light periods.

@Emerald13, how did you know that you were in perimenopause? I have heard that it's quite hard to test for. Looking back, my awful symptoms started in 2016, but because my periods were so regular until 2020, none of the GPs or counsellors I saw ever raised it as a possibility.

I had a high FSH and awful symptoms. My diagnosis was based more on my symptoms and hrt helped me almost immediately.

I’m 42 and my hormones are definitely changng. I’ve never really had issues luckily. I’m getting more symptoms pre period and more snappy which I’ve never had.

I had a very late period earlier in the year, I’ve developed anxiety but it could be stress from the pandemic as I work in a hospital patient facing. I’ve always had insomnia but the last year it’s been awful. My joints ache sometimes. Lots of small things that could add up to be peri gearing up.

I’ve started looking up menopause and reading more into it as my mum never spoke about it and by older sister is now going through peri quite obviously. There as menopause charity which has great info, I follow a great doctor on Instagram who is very knowledgeable and pro women getting help and not being dismissed. Seems like a big movement at the minute to get menopause out there and talked about more.